Salt-composition for supplementing a mineral balance in the aquaristic area, ready for use solution of said salt-composition, use of said salt-composition, and aquaristic ornamental stone obtained by said use

ABSTRACT

A salt-composition for stabilising the carbonate balance in the aquaristic area is suggested, in which the salts stabilise with major components with at least 10 weightpercent via formates the carbonate balance. The salts contain no fatties, proteins or sugars and stabilise the carbonate balance individually, being essentially disconnected from biochemical metabolism-cycles. The alkaline, ready to use solution of the salt composition supports advantageously skeleton- and reef-building sea-water-systems in their biomineralisation. Use of the salt-composition to acidicly activate carbonate-containing aquaristic ornamental stones provides special substrates, on which biomineralising systems of sea-water aquariums settle and grow quicker and better.

TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention concerns the aquaristic area (i.e. the area ofkeeping and raising plants and/or animals in an aquarium) according tothe preamble of independent claims.

‘auquaristic’ designates in the present case the area of sea-water- andfresh-water-aquaristics. Users of this area keep and raise plants aswell as animals in display-aquariums, often also in domestic areas fordecoration. Salts and salt-compositions for this area are genericallyproduced free of compounds that are toxic to fish like detergents, heavymetals or pesticides, so as to keep the usual microclimate of anaquarium in a range physiologically acceptable to the raised organisms,and allow a continuous breeding and/or decorating function.

In the present case special attention is given to the area ofseawater-aquaristics, comprising organisms, which produce mineralskeletons and housings. Typcal examples for these are reef-producingorganisms like corals or also organisms which produce carbonate-basedouter platings, shells or skeletons, which is a known feature of certaintypes of clams and algae. Such organisms extract carbonates andaccompanying cations from the water by biomenralisation. Therefore thereis a general need to keep the level of carbonate and cations which iskept constant in natural sea-water by sedimentary rocks in an aquariumequally constant at a level that is beneficial for the purpose of growthof said organisms.

PRIOR ART

The present invention proposes to said purpose to apply salts ofnon-branched carbon acids having an uneven number of C-atoms. Prior artknows such general measures and mixtures, which are to be applied in theaquaristic area and aim at providing beneficial life- andbreed-conditions.

From DE 26 41 676 A1 it is known for a long time to preserve animal'sfodder by addition of mixtures of carbon acids, comprising formic acid,so as to keep it storable und usable for longer periods of time. Suchadditives are added usually in amounts of a few weightpercent andprotect nutrient mixtures from premature decay. Similarly U.S. Pat. No.3,889,007 A discloses a nutrient mixture for sea fish , which providesthe needed minerals by addition of seawater or seawater-concentrate,wherein additions of magnesium- as well as calcium-salts mayadditionally ensure a sufficient amount of minerals needed byshell-building crustaceans. Additionally to inorganic salts organicsalts like lactates may be applied as long as the respective anions arenot detrimental to the organisms arid are able provide the beneficialcations.

A disadvantage of the generic salt-compositions is that these compriseregularly nutrients, which are digested in different ways via theindividual metabolism of the bred and exhibited fish and microorganisms.Thus such a composition influences in a not reliably predictable wayparallel equilibria like the phosphate-equilibrium or thenitrate-equlibrium. Such can result in a charge of water that has to beexchanged within one day in spite of the content of carbonates stillbeing sufficient for providing components for biomineralisation.

Known strategies to overcome this problem suggest to equilibrate thewater of an aquarium constantly with coral rag. Said mineral does oftencontain phosphates and/or nutrients characteristic for corals andinfluences also several equilibria at the same time, thus being unableto overcome the predescribed disadvantage. Carbon acids with an evennumber of C-atoms like acetates can equally be degraded via fast,biochemical metabolism-processes as C2-molecule/acetyl-coenzyme A. Thusthe established, continuous methods and their application are likewisedisadvantageous and necessitate a continuous, almost hourly monitoringof parallel metabolism-equilibria.

It was therefore an object of the present invention to overcome thedisadvantages of the prior art and provide a salt-composition which actsparallel to the supply of organisms with feed-compositions and iscapable to provide a stabilised carbonate content within an aquarium for24 hours, especially in a sea-water aquarium.

The solution of said object is obtained according to the features of theindependent claims. Advantageous embodiments, uses and ways ofapplication and thus obtainable, new products can be derived fromderived claims, dependent claims, and the following specification.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention a salt-composition for supplementing amineral balance in the auqaristic area is characterised in that thesalt-composition contains at least as one major component, havingrespectively at least 10 weightpercent, at least one alkali-salt oralkali-earth-salt of a non-branched carbon acid having an uneven numberof C-atoms.

Furthermore a solution of the inventive salt-composition is claimed,which is a ready for use solution of the proposed salt-composition forsupplementing the mineral balance in the aquaristic area, thetransparent solution having a pH-value of 8+−0.8; a content of solid,sediment-forming particles, detectable by visual inspection (i. e.directly visible to the human eye), of below one weight percent and acontent of salt of 15+−5 weightpercent.

Furthermore a use of the claimed salt-composition for supplementing amineral balance in the aquaristic area is claimed, the salt-compositioncontaining as major component of at least 80 weightpercentcalcium(I1)formate Ca(HCOO)2 and/or magnesium(II)formate Mg(HCOO)2 andcontains as minor component having 5+−4 weightpercent at least onecarbonate of at least one metal selected from the group consisting ofMg, Ca, Sr, Li, Na, K, wherein the carbonate of the salt-composition isreacted with a 10-percent surplus amount of formic acid and anornamental, porous, carbonate-based, aquaristic stone is theninfiltrated with the thus-obtained, acidic solution, effectingactivation of the stone by concluding reaction of the formic acid withthe carbonate of the stone.

Furthermore the present invention claims the activated, natural oridentically man-made, carbonate-based, aquaristic ornamental stone,obtained by the predescribed use, having in its pores a slightlyalkaline solution of the inventive salt-composition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND ADVANTAGEOUS FEATURES

Deviating from the established and disadvantageous compositions thepresently claimed salt-composition consists solely of salts, which actas non-degradable nutrient and do not instantly engage in parallelmetabolism-equilibria like the phosphate- or nitrate-equilibria.

The salt-composition is thus combined in a way that comprises neitherfatties, proteins nor sugars; it contains only minerals which cancontribute to a biomineralisation in the aquaristic area und canstabilise the related carbonate balance, without being able to causeinterfering products of feed-metabolisms.

According to the invention the salt-composition for supplementing amineral balance in the auqaristic area is characterised in that thesalt-composition contains at least as one major component, havingrespectively at least 10 weightpercent, at least one alkali-salt oralkali-earth-salt of a non-branched carbon acid having an uneven numberof C-atoms. Non-branched carbon acids having an uneven number of C-atomsare no usual metabolism-products and in common metabolism-cycles theyare degraded either slowly or not at all. The inventors assume that thismay explain, that a salt-composition with a relevant amount of suchsalts is capable of stabilising the carbonate balance without remarkablyinfluencing the oxygen-balance or nutrition-balance. Said effect can beexplained by the following, non-binding reaction-theory:

Common metabolism-cycles build carbon acids from C2-molecules anddegrade them likewise via said molecules; carbon acids having an unevennumber of C-atoms are degraded slowly but also via C2-molecules—whichwill finally result in each case in a remaining molecule containing oneC-atom only In case of the preferably applied formic acid (methanoicacid) said molecule is directly given as formate-anion HCOO⁻. Formicacid is known to be decomposable catalytically at room temperature asfollows:

HCOOH=CO₂+H₂

in words: formic acid is in equilibrium with carbon. dioxide andhydrogen

Carbon dioxide/CO₂ is known o react with water, producing hydrocarbonate (formula: (HCO₃)⁻) by deprotonation.

Upon providing a salt of formic acid with a concentration of at least 10weightpercent as case may be together with further, inorganic salts thefollowing, similar reaction in the presence of a catalyst can takeplace:

HCOO⁻+H₂O=(HCO₃)⁻+H₂

in words: formate+water=hydrocarbonate+hydrogen

The predescribed model shows that formates in the presence of catalystsin aqueous solution may be in equilibrium with hydrocarbonates and thusalso with carbonates. The presence of suitable, catalytically activetrace elements can not be excluded, especially in the case of naturalmineral additives like sea water or biominerals of natural origin. Itgoes without saying that the inventors do not wish to be bound by saidtheory; the theory only shows a stabilisation of a carbonate-balancewithout influencing biochemical metabolism-cycles to be consistentlyexplainable. With the present reaction-model the experimentally found,considerable stabilisation of carbonate hardness in a sea-water aquariumcontaining biomenralising organisms can be explained conclusively. Withthe presently suggested salt-composition a carbonate balance couldalways be stabilised for a period of one day, the growth-rate/rate ofmineralisation being consistently stable and higher. Likewisestrategies, which apply only mineral components, are not known to theinventors. Such can be attributed to the fact, that established productsand compositions always comprise nutrients or the amount of the relevantcarbon acids is too small within the solid or nutrient composition toeffect any remarkable stabilisation of the carbonate balance.

Depending on the type of biomineralisation to be supported alkalinesalts or alkaline earth salts may be selected and adjusted to therespective ratio. While plating- and reef-building systems may often besupported with calcium- and/or magnesium-salts as main component, somesymbiotic algae require higher amounts of Li, Na, K, Ba, Sr or also Fe,to develop typically coloured, mineral structures. Especially preferredare calcium- and/or magnesium-salts as main component.

The respective carbon acid anions may be of equal or differing nature.Formates, propionates, valerates and enanthates (heptanoates) may alsobe supplied as mixture, as long as the concentration of the respectivesalts is physiologically acceptable for the respective breeding/growingorganisms. Preferably main components are only formates in case ofheavily carbonate consuming systems like for example decorative reefs,so as to keep growth and carbonate-supply at maximum.

Preferably the salt-composition is characterised in that thesalt-composition contains as at least one minor component, havingrespectively 5+−4 weightpercent, a halide of an alkaline earth metal.Especially preferably such minor components supply beneficial halideions for symbiotic algae, which show a raised demand for anions ofhalides, preferably iodine and/or fluorine.

Preferably the salt-composition is characterised in that thesalt-composition contains as at least one trace component, havingrespectively up to 1 weightpercent, at least one inorganic salt of ametal, said metal being a metal selected from the group consisting ofLi, Rb, Ba, Al, Fe, Zn, Mo, Be, B, Si, Ti, Sc, Mn, V, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni,Se. Especially preferably colour-inducing or coloured complexes and/orstructures and platings enabling cations are thus provided in anornamental aquarium.

Preferably the salt-composition is characterised in that thesalt-composition has at least one weight part per thousand of sedimentforming particles. Providing a salt of low solubility, as can be foundin natural sediments, ensures the concentration of the respective cationto be similar to the concentration within natural sea-water. Providingan amount of solid barium sulfate ensures especially preferably asufficient, average supply with said trace element.

Preferably the salt-composition for supplementing the mineral balance inthe aquaristic area is characterised in that it contains as majorcomponent with at least 80 weightpercent calcium(ii)formate of theformula Ca(HCOO)2, up to 15 weightpercent minor components, up to 3weightpercent trace components, remaining weightpercent being sedimentforming, alkaline particles and unavoidable contaminants. In thiscomposition the sediment forming, alkaline particles indicate in an easyand directly inspectable way a pH-value that has been set to thecorrectly, alkaline value as needed for sea-water. ‘Sediment forming’relates to the particles providing at least part of the naturally insediments occurring salts like the mineral salts that can be found innatural carbonates and/or silicates.

In especially advantageous embodiment a thus composed mix of saltsindicates with its sediment forming particles, which descend slowly andaccumulate at the bottom, a pH-value which is correctly held in thealkaline region, because in case of an acidic pH-value the alkalineparticles would corrode and dissolve. Thus the sediment-forming,alkaline particles—preferably finely dispersed and aqueouslyprecipitated carbonates serve as easily checkable sign of quality of thesalt mix itself and provide at the same time the possibility to checkthe pH-value of a sea-water aquarium directly. Such allows an easier andmore advantageous use of the salt-compositions as such and of therespective solutions and provide a higher compliance on the customers'side.

Preferably the salt-composition is characterised in that at least one ofthe major components, minor components or trace components has beenobtained by reaction of a carbonate with formic acid. Thus producedformates showed repeatedly the best growth rates/mineralisation-rates.The inventors assume carbonates to contain as traces common,accompanying substances, which are important for the biologicalavailability of components and for the speed of mineralisation.Especially advantageous were carbonates that were of natural maritime orprimeval origin.

Preferably the Salt-composition is characterised in that thesalt-composition contains as major component of at least 80weightpercent calcium(II)formate Ca(HCOO)2 and/or magnesium(II)formateMg(HCOO)2 and contains as minor component having 5+−4 weightpercent atleast one carbonate of at least one metal selected from the groupconsisting of Mg, Ca, Sr, Li, Na, K. Such a salt-composition supportsadvantageously cultures of symbiotic, maritime nature, which form mostlycarbonate-based structures like reef or endoskeletons. Within suchcultures—additionally to the beneficial stabilised carbonate balance thecations support with remarkably higher concentrations the mineralisationalso.

According to the invention a ready for use solution of the presentlysuggested salt-composition for supplementing the mineral balance in theaquaristic area is characterised by the transparent solution having apH-value of 8+−0.8; a content of solid, sediment-forming particles,detectable by visual inspection, of below one weight percent; a contentof salt of 15+−5 weightpercent.

‘transparent’ relates to solutions which are clear to the eye with aliquid column of at least 50 centimeters and allow without difficulty torecognise obstacles/objects behind said solutions. The solution is not‘milk-like’ in appearance and does not contain cations in concentrationsthat could impede as colloid phosphate-, sulfate- orcarbonate-precipitates the transparent nature of the water of anaquarium.

A pH-value of 7.2 to 8.8 is in the alkaline region and can similarly befound in maritime areas in the presence of freshly rinsed sedimentedshoals and natural rocks. Such an adjustment allows the solutionespecially to be used in sea-water aquariums without having to heed alowering of the pH value that would be non-tolerable for the respectiveorganisms. A salt content of 15+−5 weightpercent ensures that even inthe case of an excessive overdose no toxic concentrations of mineralswill occur; as long as the solution is only added to an aquarium duringits normal use damaging of the organisms due to excessive saltconcentration is barely possible.

In combination with the predescribed, sediment forming, alkalineparticles an especially user-friendly product is provided, which allowseffectively supporting biomineralisation by stabilisation of thecarbonate balance and parallel increase of the concentration of theneeded cations.

Furthermore the present invention suggests a use of a salt-compositionfor supplementing the mineral balance in the aquaristic area, wherein asolid carbonate of the salt-composition is reacted with a 10-percentsurplus amount of formic acid. During said reaction the carbonate iscompletely dissolved and the surplus of acid results in an acidic,aqueous solution of the salt composition. With said acidic solution anornamental, porous, carbonate-based, aquaristic stone is theninfiltrated.

Ornamental aquaristic stones serve to decorate aquariums as cover ofair-supply or CO2-supply or as a growth-substrate for algae andmicroorganisms. Being at least partially porous is a native feature ofsuch ornamental stones and they can be penetrated completely by a liquidor a gas via continuous pore-channels. Such ornamental stones oftencontain a large amount of 20 weightpercent and more of carbonates andcan be designated as ‘carbonate-based’.

An infiltration with an acidic solution thus requires a diligent,complete soaking of an aquaristic ornamental stone with said solution.Such can advantageously be provided by quick, complete submersion ofsuch an ornamental stone in the predescribed, acidic solution until nofurther, Characteristic bubbles of carbon dioxide are produced/thepH-value has reached a stable level in the alkaline region.

Thus an activation of the stone by concluding reaction of the formicacid with the carbonate of the stone is effected. An ornamental stone isobtained that provides throughout its pores and channels continuouslybeneficial minerals and an adjusted pH value for biomineralisation. Suchallows especially advantageously inoculation and/or afresh applicationof such an ornamental stone with skeleton- and reef-building organisms.In comparative experiments such conditioned substrates allowedremarkably quicker, more successful and more reliably thegrowth/settling of mineralising cultures.

Thus the present invention also claims an activated, natural oridentically man-made, carbonate-based, aquaristic ornamental stone,obtained by the predescribed use, having in its pores a slightlyalkaline solution of the inventive salt-composition for supplementing amineral balance in the aquaristic area. Said solution has typically apH-value of 8+−0.8; a content of solid, sediment-forming particles,detectable by visual inspection, of below one weight percent and acontent of salt of 15+−5 weightpercent,

Further advantages become apparent in view of the embodiments. Thepredescribed features and advantages and following embodiments are notto be understood as limiting the present invention, Advantageous,additional features and additional combinations of features, as they areexplained in the specification, may be applied within the scope of theindependent claims individually as well as in deviating combinations,without leaving the scope of the present invention.

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

FIG. 1 represents in a model sketch the advantageous support of abiomineralisation in the aquaristic area with the help of the suggestedsalt composition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION IN VIEW OF EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 represents in a model sketch, how the advantageous support of abiomineralisation in the aquaristic area with the suggestedsalt-composition may be explained: In an aqueous, slightly alkalinesolution, represented by the ovally surrounding line, calcium(II)formateis present in dissolved, singular ions. Similarly to the known,catalytic reaction of formic acid at room temperature, resulting in CO2and hydrogen, an equilibrium may be outlined, which links the respectivehydrocarbonates to formates. Hydrocarbonates are in equlibrium with thecarbonates of the skeletons, platings and structures of the organisms ofthe aquarium. The solid carbonates resulting from this biomineralisationare depicted as eight-fold star. The double arrow linking said star tothe oval, aqueous solution represents the chemical equilibrium, whichlinks the biominerals with the hydrocarbonates. Within this formal modelthe biomineral CaCO₃ may be obtained from Ca²⁺ und 2 (HCO₃)⁻ byproducing one molecule of water and one molecule of carbon dioxide. Theexplanatory model shows that dissolved formates can be in chemicalequilibrium with carbonates/hydrocarbonates. The inventors deem this tobe responsible for the fact that the carbonate balance and thebiomineralisation in a sea-water aquarium can be supported according tothe invention, without interfering with the metabolism-cycles ofproteins, fatties or sugars. The latter shall be shown in more detail inthe following embodiments.

In an advantageous embodiment a ready to use solution is obtained bydissolving 130 g calciumformate in water purified by reverse osmosis soas to obtain one liter of solution.

To that end 900 ml of said water are provided, 130 g of pharmaceuticallypure calciumformate are added as powder and dissolved completely withina few hours by mechanically stirring the mixture. Concludingly thesolution is replenished—after adding further, barely soluble, sedimentforming minerals on sulfate basis—to one liter total volume. Thesolution contains as main component calciumformate (according to thepresent invention ingredients can be classified according to theirconcentration; major components have a content of 10 or moreweightpercent, minor components have a content in the area of a few toone weightpercent, and trace components are contained with less than oneweightpercent).

The solution replenished to one liter total volume contains roughly40.000 mg/l calcium.

Experimental practice showed this salt-solution to have the same effectas a liter of aqueous solution having a carbonate hardness of 5000degrees ‘KH’ (‘KH’=carbonate hardness; hardness caused byhydrocarbonates that may be removed/precipitated by heat). The inventivesolution was stable and applicable in spite of varied temperatures andshowed in application in a sea-water aquarium with reef-formingorganisms a very low consumption of oxygen; such allowed theverification of carbonate balance and the addition of further solutionto be extended to a period of 24 hours, without the occurrence of ashortage of carbonate-supply. The inventors attribute the latter to thefact that stabilisation of the mineral balance is effected by formates,which are disconnected from the parallel nutrient and metabolisticcycles of the organisms. Thus it was possible for the first time toremove the necessity to adjust a carbonate balance within 24 hoursrepeatedly in spite of substantial biomineralisation due to present,reef-building systems, which are known to deplete the availablecarbonates.

In a further, advantageous embodiment a ready to use solution isobtained by dissolving 115 g magnesiumformate in water purified byreverse osmosis and replenishing the solution to a volume of 1 liter ashas been explained in the previous example. This solution contains asmajor component magnesiumformate.

Experimental practice showed a similar effectivity, themagnesium-salt-solution having the same effect on the carbonate balanceas a liter of aqueous solution having a carbonate hardness of 4800degrees ‘KH’ (‘KH’=carbonate hardness; hardness caused byhydrocarbonates that may be removed/precipitated by heat). The inventorsdeem the slightly lower affectivity explainable by present, symbioticalgae, which are known. to incorporate magnesium so as to produce alsochlorophyll; the magnesium-salt-solution allowed likewise to check andreplenish the carbonate balance every 24 hours without any shortage inthe carbonate supply occurring during said period.

In a further, especially advantageous embodiment 130 g calciumformateare dissolved in purified water as predescribed, using a slightlyalkaline solution of a primeval limestone of organic origin in order toreplenish the solution to a volume of one liter. The replenishingsolution thus provides additionally about 2 g magnesium (Mg), below 1 gstrontium (Sr), trace amounts of barium (Ba), sodium (Na) und potassium(K), selen (Se), molybdenum (Mo), vanadium (V) and lithium (Li), havingchloride (Cl) as main anion and traces of iodide (I), bromide (Br) andfluoride (F). This solution showed general effects as predescribed inthe other embodiments; especially advantageous was the application ofsaid solution with reef-building systems: A reef-colony attached itselfto an ornamental stone roughly 10% faster, providing a solid connectionof the two more quickly, if the additional minerals were present. Thetrace content of iodide-anions seems to be an important, limitingfactor. Similar, inventive salt-solutions starting with roughly 40 gcalcium ions per liter and containing at least 40+−20 milligrams ofiodide anions showed a comparable increase in speed of attachment.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

Products for sea-water aquaristics—especially for biomineralisation ofreef-building Systems—are subject of substantial, industrialexploitation. The present invention offers in this area for the firsttime a salt-composition for stabilising a carbonate balance, wherein thesalts comprise as main component with at least 10 weightpercentformates, stabilising the carbonate balance for 24 hours. The saltscontain no fatties, proteins or sugars and stabilise with smalloxygen-consumption the carbonate balance individually, being essentiallydisconnected from biochemical metabolism-cycles. The alkaline, ready touse solution of the salt-composition supports advantageously skeleton-and reef-building seawater-systems in their biomineralisation. Use ofthe salt-composition to acidicly activate carbonate-containingornamental aquaristic stones provides especially useful substrates, onwhich biomineralising systems of sea-water aquariums settle and growquicker.

The proposed, novel products and subject-matters feature a superior,lasting stability of thus-adjusted carbonate balance and an improvedcustomers' compliance, providing a valuable contribution to industriallyapplicable and exploitable range of products.

1. Salt-composition for supplementing a mineral balance in theauqaristic area, characterised in that the salt-composition contains atleast as one major component, having respectively at least 10weightpercent, at least one alkali-salt or alkali-earth-salt of anon-branched carbon acid having an uneven number of C-atoms. 2.Salt-composition according to claim 1, characterised in that thesalt-composition contains as at least one minor component, havingrespectively 5+−4 weightpercent, a halide of an alkaline earth metal. 3.Salt-composition according to claim 1, characterised in that thesalt-composition contains as at least one trace component, havingrespectively up to 1 weightpercent, at least one inorganic salt of ametal, said metal being a metal selected from the group consisting ofLi, Rh, In, Ba, Al, Fe, Zn, Mo, Be, B, Si, Ti, Sc, Mn, V, Cr, Fe, Co,Ni, Se.
 4. Salt-composition according to claim 1, characterised in thatthe salt-composition has at least one weight part per thousand ofsediment forming particles.
 5. Salt-composition for supplementing themineral balance in the aquaristic area according to claim 1, containingas major component with at least 80 weightpercent calcium(II)formate ofthe formula Ca(HCOO)₂, up to 15 weightpercent minor components, up to 3weightpercent trace components, remaining weightpercent being sedimentforming, alkaline particles and unavoidable contaminants. 6.Salt-composition according to claim 1, characterised in that at leastone of the major components, minor components or trace components hasbeen obtained by reaction of a carbonate with formic acid. 7.Salt-composition according to claim 1, characterised in that thesalt-composition contains as major component of at least 80weightpercent calcium(II)formate Ca(HCOO)₂ and/or magnesium(II)formateMg(HCOO)₂ and contains as minor component having 5+−4 weightpercent atleast one carbonate of at least one metal selected from the groupconsisting of Mg, Ca, Sr, Li, Na, K.
 8. A ready for use solution of asalt-composition for supplementing he mineral balance in the aquaristicarea according to claim 1, the transparent solution having a pH-value of8+−0.8; a content of solid, sediment-forming particles, detectable byvisual inspection, of below one weight percent; a content of salt of15+−5 weightpercent.
 9. Use of a salt-composition for supplementing themineral balance in the aquaristic area according to claim 7, wherein thecarbonate of the salt-composition is reacted with a 10-percent surplusamount of formic acid and an ornamental, porous, carbonate-based,aquaristic stone is then infiltrated with the thus-obtained, acidicsolution, effecting activation of the stone by concluding reaction ofthe formic acid with the carbonate of the stone.
 10. Activated, naturalor identically man-made, carbonate-based, aquaristic ornamental stone,obtained by the use according to the previous claim, having in its poresa slightly alkaline solution according to claim 8.